Experiences Purchasing Your Boxster On-Line? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Kevlar986 · 12-31-2005, 04:43 PM

I shopped on-line this last Feb., not ebay, but actual dealer inventory and found a great color combination. I called the dealer, spoke to them several times, had them email pictures etc... I made an offer that was accepted even got financing at 5% for 4 years. I did not have it inspected, but bought from a Porsche dealer, and received the additional 2 year CPO. I had the car shipped to me, in a covered carrier. No problems what so ever, it was exactly as described and had all services performed at that dealer. I talked to the previous owner, who traded in for 2005 987. I guess I could have been really screwed in hindsight, but to my enjoyment, drove the hell out of that car this summer with not a single problem. I've even had it on the lift with not a drop from the dreaded rms. Although I will get new tires this year, but feel all in all very good experience and got a much better price than anyone local would have given me.

Kevlar986
2001 seal grey/blk/blk

CA_Boxster · 12-31-2005, 09:40 PM

I found mine on ebay but it was at a dealer in Houston that specializes in late model, low mileage cars. I called them and worked it out directly. I was able to have a friend visually inspect it locally, had a company go do a pre-purchase inspection (found them listed on ebay motors) and was going to have the local Porsche dealership inspect it, but it turned out that the car had initially come off their own lot where it was certified pre-owned. I got a fair price for exactly the car I wanted with 21k miles (this was June 2004). It was a 2000 car that went into service VERY late so it still had 6 months of warranty, so I felt safe enough. It turned out that I did have some potentially expensive transmission cable wear that was covered under warranty. That's something that no inspection would catch and I could have been stuck with the bill had there not been warranty coverage left. I wouldn't be surprised if that dealer would have helped with the repair since they do a lot of remote business and wouldn't want the quality hit, but that still would have been a bad experience.

All said, I would do it again. I would invest some $$ in a serious inspection at a Porsche dealership (a few hundred bucks up front on a car like this isn't a big deal). I don't think I would buy this way from an individual, though. I live in CA and there are too many cars out here that I could see personally. Wouldn't be worth the risk to go remote.

mjw930 · 01-01-2006, 06:54 AM

I've bought my last 2 Porsche's through on-line ads, one from ebay and the other through a yahoo search.

Ebay has turned into the top listing agent for used cars but most cars that end up being sold due to an ebay posting are not sold through the auction process. When my '03S popped up on ebay I called the dealer (an MB dealer in PA who took it on trade) and negotiated a price. Within 10 minutes I had arraigned financing through one of their banks and the car was gone from ebay! I flew up, they picked me up at the airport and we drove the car home (back to FL) that day (well we took 2 days to get home).

I've listed and sold 2 motorcycles through ebay and both were negotiated the same way. They didn't sell through the auction, the buyer called me and we negotiated a fair price. Once I had their deposit I closed the auction.

Think of ebay as just another avenue like auto trader and forget about the bidding process, it's a waste of time on big ticket items like this.

Brucelee · 01-01-2006, 08:21 AM

"Think of ebay as just another avenue like auto trader and forget about the bidding process, it's a waste of time on big ticket items like this."

That is exactly correct!

BengalsFan · 01-06-2006, 10:56 PM

After reading the previous posts on the experiences and advice of other board members, I am somewhat ashamed to admit that when I bid on and purchased my Boxster "S" through eBay (see 1st post of this thread) that I did so without having it inspected first. I pretty much depended on the honesty and integrety of the seller (a small car reseller in Portland), and the fact that it only had 19K miles on it. Pretty naive and trusting on my part. However, I knew that I was not going to turn the money over to him until I picked up the vehicle at his lot and test drove it first. He could not be more accommodating though out this process. So I got lucky. Based on the experiences and good advice of the previous posts, I would probably not take such a risk again.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice.

mjw930 · 01-07-2006, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BengalsFan

After reading the previous posts on the experiences and advice of other board members, I am somewhat ashamed to admit that when I bid on and purchased my Boxster "S" through eBay (see 1st post of this thread) that I did so without having it inspected first. I pretty much depended on the honesty and integrety of the seller (a small car reseller in Portland), and the fact that it only had 19K miles on it. Pretty naive and trusting on my part. However, I knew that I was not going to turn the money over to him until I picked up the vehicle at his lot and test drove it first. He could not be more accommodating though out this process. So I got lucky. Based on the experiences and good advice of the previous posts, I would probably not take such a risk again.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice.

No reason the be ashamed, if the bid price was in the neighborhood of what you wanted to pay then you did what you needed to get the car. As for inspections and such, if the car was still on factory warranty and it came back with a clean carfax (I know, this isn't perfect but it's all we have) AND you were buying from a registered dealer then you minimized your risk. About the only thing I might have done would have been a PPI from a local Porsche dealer but in lieu of that calling the servicing dealer to get the service history of the car works too.

BadBoyS · 01-07-2006, 06:25 PM

I have had 2 chances to use online buying. One Good One BAAAAD. I was the high bidder on ebay a 1991 911 cab. car was in NJ ran carfax and asked the seller for more pictures. Looked good and I was set. Well maybe not, 14 hours of driving with trailor in tow I got to the car. Engine light, Top light and a NICE NEW deep scratch on the passenger door. Plus the swirl marks in the paint were really bad. The car did not start and needed to be jumped. Each time the car was shut off it needed to be jumped. I told the guy that he didn't disclose any of this and that I wasn't intrested. He said all of the above just came up. His kid dropped his bike on the door. 14 hour ride back with trailor(no car) and a nice learning experience. I called My attorney just in case the guy tried to push the binding contract crap with ebay. He did call on my way home to apologize Little late. I didn't put a deposit down since he wanted a money order so I lucked out there too.

After looking for years for a decent 911 in the 90-92 year range I made the decision to get the boxster. I feel I made the right choice. Purchased on- line (not ebay)but had a inspection done before hand and carfax and porsche service info. Night and day expierence it pays to do your homework. :dance:

Jeph · 01-08-2006, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucelee

"Think of ebay as just another avenue like auto trader and forget about the bidding process, it's a waste of time on big ticket items like this."

That is exactly correct!

What about auctions with no reserve? I'm a fan of watching, and occationally participating, in those.

Brucelee · 01-08-2006, 10:32 AM

"What about auctions with no reserve? I'm a fan of watching, and occationally participating, in those."

They can be fun. However, you have to ask yourself this question,

Why would someone willing risk a car with no floor on the price?

Answer--???????

Interesting.

Jeph · 01-08-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucelee

Why would someone willing risk a car with no floor on the price?

Answer--???????

I find reserves inhibit bidding. I never sell with a reserve. Then again, I've never tried to sell a car.

Perfectlap · 01-10-2006, 11:03 AM

When I listed my Miata i did so with no reserve. As a seller you have a certain amount of time to pull the auction. The only annoying part is all the bidders trying to go around ebay with side deals DURING the auction. That can become a pain when everyone is screeaming please sell me the car. I had one guy in South Florida promising to name his first kid after me if I sold it to him. One Kid in New Orleans called me months afterwards for the name of the new owner so he could make an offer to him. Ebay uncorks a world of enthusiasts for every car out there

As far as non-enthusiast cars I sold for friends, ebay was a last resorts to the trade in route. I had to urge them STRONGLY to let me try and sell it for them and in some instances I tripled the best offer they got from the old 4 sale sign and expensive newspaper ad.